Bye week helps Virgil's continued recovery

Cornerback Stephan Virgil, who injured his left knee in Virginia Tech’s season-opener against Alabama, has continued to progress and was aided by the bye week. But the Hokies coaches were not specific about what, if any, treatments Virgil underwent during the time off.

Torrian Gray, the Hokies’ defensive backs coach, said Virgil has continued to practice with the varsity players, and not just with the scout team. The first time he had done so this season was leading up to the Hokies’ 28-23 loss at Georgia Tech on Oct. 17.

“The knee is getting better, getting healthier, by him being able to exert himself against that competition,” Gray said.

Coach Frank Beamer said that Virgil worked with trainer Mike Goforth during the bye week and that “resting him during the week is something that has helped Stephan out quite a bit.”

Virgil has declined interview requests since the week of the Miami game on Sept. 26.

Virgil injured his knee in a Sept. 5 meeting with the Crimson Tide, which beat the Hokies, 34-24, in the Georgia Dome. Virgil missed the Hokies’ games against Marshall on Sept. 12 and against Nebraska on Sept. 19. He returned to play against Miami but was limited in practice.

Entering the year, Virgil, a senior, was the Hokies best and most experienced cornerback. His injury was a source of concern, but Rashad Carmichael has played well in his heightened role as the boundary cornerback, which plays in man-on-man coverage and often against the opposing team’s best wide receiver.